Is it legal for ebay to take commission from seller's postage?

RFW

ilcompetitionsuk wrote: »

Yeah I agree. Please like facebook page called Ebay fees on postage unfair :mad:

Can you start one about petrol prices and the rising cost of bread too?
Also one on what happened to seeds in grapes?

soolin

RFW wrote: »

Can you start one about petrol prices and the rising cost of bread too?
Also one on what happened to seeds in grapes?

I love seeded black grapes

Incidentally, have you come across the rumours of a new 'big' player planning to enter the auction market very soon? I know we've had rumours for years now, but I've seen a couple of mentions of this today. Suggestions are that it is not going to be just a cheap site and that fees may well be in line with eBay, but it is a serious contender with money behind it.

Or is it just a variation on the 'eBay is doomed' statement

Road_Hog

RFW wrote: »

You're still making a buyer who hasn't received an item wait 3 weeks for a refund for not receiving an item they paid for in good faith. Do you really think that's fair and that refunding for a lost item within a few days of it not being received is being 'forced to lick your customer's bottom'?

Do you think that it is fair that the buyer says foxtrot oscar, I've got my refund and I'm not bothered about you getting your refund? What a selfish world that you live it.

RFW

Road_Hog wrote: »

Do you think that it is fair that the buyer says foxtrot oscar, I've got my refund and I'm not bothered about you getting your refund? What a selfish world that you live it.

Not sure what's selfish about it, it's good customer service. I don't want customers of mine faffing around with filling in forms and jumping through hoops to add to them not receiving their item. If I'm nice to them they won't have a problem filling out the Royal Mail form and then buying something else. That said in all the years of trading online I've never asked a customer to report on a lost item, either with Royal Mail or a courier and we've had our share of lost items.

If you sell regularly, what level of repeat customers do you get? Below 25%? Less than 10%?

It's no wonder Ebay tighten their seller guidelines when some sellers can't tell what is simply good business practice that will increase trade.

RFW

soolin wrote: »

I love seeded black grapes

Incidentally, have you come across the rumours of a new 'big' player planning to enter the auction market very soon? I know we've had rumours for years now, but I've seen a couple of mentions of this today. Suggestions are that it is not going to be just a cheap site and that fees may well be in line with eBay, but it is a serious contender with money behind it.

Or is it just a variation on the 'eBay is doomed' statement

I know Stanley Gibbons have plans for the (obviously) stamps and other collectables too. Not sure how much that will take in. That's probably the best approach to grow from and then connect up with other categories.

Not heard of anyone else.

Road_Hog

RFW wrote: »

Can you start one about petrol prices and the rising cost of bread too?
Also one on what happened to seeds in grapes?

Do you mark seedless grape sellers down on ebay, even though they clearly say that the grapes are seedless? I bet you buy them because you're a sad old man and then mark the seller down because you feel you've been robbed of your grape seeds, even though the description clearly said that the grapes were seedless.

RFW

Road_Hog wrote: »

Do you mark seedless grape sellers down on ebay, even though they clearly say that the grapes are seedless? I bet you buy them because you're a sad old man and then mark the seller down because you feel you've been robbed of your grape seeds, even though the description clearly said that the grapes were seedless.

I believe you're mocking me for providing good customer service. Fair enough. Treating people like idiots can work for a business, it isn't the best practice but good luck with it.

I'm still waiting to see which other elements of the customer service Ebay ask you to provide customers would be considered as 'bottom licking' by you?

Road_Hog

RFW wrote: »

Not sure what's selfish about it, it's good customer service. I don't want customers of mine faffing around with filling in forms and jumping through hoops to add to them not receiving their item. If I'm nice to them they won't have a problem filling out the Royal Mail form and then buying something else. That said in all the years of trading online I've never asked a customer to report on a lost item, either with Royal Mail or a courier and we've had our share of lost items.

If you sell regularly, what level of repeat customers do you get? Below 25%? Less than 10%?

It's no wonder Ebay tighten their seller guidelines when some sellers can't tell what is simply good business practice that will increase trade.

It is not unreasonable to expect a customer to fill in some paperwork in return for a refund, many companies operate this system. If the seller doesn't get a refund from RM, then that cost has to be passed onto other buyers, which is not fair. Most large blue chip companies will ask you for a signature and address before handing over a refund for anything above a small purchase value.

As previously stated, I sold mobile phones and a few laptops, it is not the sort of product that you get weekly repeat business. The proof in the pudding was, does my products sell. And the answer is yes, why? Because I unlocked the phones - so no visit to some dodgy backstreet mobile phone shop required - I debranded them, so when you stuck your O2 sim in, it didn't say welcome to Orange - the price was cheap - the delivery was quick and I had good feedback.

So, I made a couple of quid on the postage, really, every buyer knew what he was paying, knew what he was getting, had checked my feedback and liked the price, which is why they bought from me. What is not to like about that?

But they bought into the ebay rip off postage propaganda. Well fine, I don't sell mobile phones on ebay anymore, customers don't get the chance to see my products, which they were never forced to buy in the first place - have a look on ebay and see how many independent mobile phone sellers there are, selling unlocked and debranded phones - not many.

I really struggle why people buy into the ebay rubbish about postage, they're only doing it to get commission on the postage and all costs get added onto the total cost, so when sellers have to pay 10% on postage, they will have to add that on. Seriously, nobody forces anyone to buy anything from ebay sellers, surely you want as much choice as possible.

I dislike the sort of seedy backstreet mobile unlocking phone shops, and I think most people are the same, you can of feel dirty going into them. Surely, if I can sell you an unlocked debranded phone for the same price as you'd buy in the high street for a locked branded phone, you'd want to buy my product (based on good feedback, gold powerseller and over 5,000 sales).

So for the sake of the fact, that I'd transferred £2 from the sale price to the postage, you'd buy from me, because you liked the price, liked the product, liked the delivery service, you stab me in the back with low DSRs.

I do have to ask, why buy from me, go buy from somebody offering free postage that is more expensive. Why buy from me because you like the price/product/delivery and then effectively kick me off ebay, because then you won't be able to buy again. Before anyone starts on the morality of trying to evoid fees, please remember ebay moved its head office from the UK to Luxembourg to avoid paying its share of taxes.

As previously said, I'm not a business seller (on ebay) anymore and I've only popped into this part of MSE because I've been given over 100 vintage Airfix kits to sell and I'm reliving the joys of having to deal with ebay/paypal - thankfully I'll have managed to sell them all before September, plus the buyers are much nicer people than those that I dealt with on the mobile phones and laptops - nobody is buying an item at 9:00pm and calling me at 10:00am the following day screaming that their phone hasn't arrived.

Road_Hog

RFW wrote: »

I believe you're mocking me

You are correct.

RFW wrote: »

Treating people like idiots can work for a business, it isn't the best practice.

It certainly works for ebay/paypal, but when you have a virtual monopoly you can get away with it.

RFW

Road_Hog wrote: »

You are correct.


It certainly works for ebay/paypal, but when you have a virtual monopoly you can get away with it.

So you admit it doesn't work for you then? Keep trying, your good spirits may win them round.